Special voting is taking place today in the Western and Eastern Regions following a rescheduling by the Electoral Commission (EC) due to earlier concerns over ballot security.The exercise, which was initially slated for December 2, was postponed after a leakage of ballot papers was discovered. The EC promptly intervened by recalling and reprinting the compromised ballot papers to uphold the election's integrity.

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Jean Mensa, the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, disclosed during a news briefing on December 1 that the decision was necessary to ensure transparency and credibility ahead of the 2024 General Election.The special voting exercise allows security personnel, media practitioners, and election officials to cast their ballots in advance, enabling them to carry out their duties on the general election day.

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This year’s process spans 328 centres nationwide, covering 131,478 voters, with 33 centres designated in the Eastern Region and 17 in the Western Region.Deputy EC Chairperson Dr. Bossman Asare, speaking on December 4, confirmed the Commission’s preparedness for the event. He assured that all materials had been dispatched to the respective centres and urged registered voters to participate.

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“All necessary preparations have been completed for a smooth process,” Dr. Asare stated. “We expect all special voters in these regions, regardless of their current location, to make it to their designated centres today.”He emphasized that today’s exercise is a one-time opportunity for registered special voters in the two regions, as no further provisions would be made for them to cast their votes after this date.

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With the EC’s measures in place, the special voting exercise is anticipated to proceed without further incidents, ensuring fairness and accountability.

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